SA Rugby issue statement in wake of World Rugby awards results

SA Rugby have issued a statement following Malcolm Marx’s win in the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award.

Marx became the fourth Springbok to claim the sport’s top individual honour, sealing an unprecedented back-to-back win for the Boks in the award.

He was also the first front-rower to win since Keith Wood won the inaugural award in 2001.

Pieter-Steph du Toit, last year’s recipient and a fellow nominee this time around, had already made history as the first South African to win the award twice.

Marx, 31, now joins Du Toit, Bryan Habana (2007) and Schalk Burger (2004) on the elite roll of honour.

The hooker’s season has been a clinic in consistency. Dominant at the lineout, destructive at scrum time and inevitably present over the ball, Marx edged a shortlist stacked with South Africans: Du Toit, 2024’s winner; Ox Nche, and in the Breakthrough Player of Year category, Ethan Hooker.

“On behalf of SA Rugby, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Malcolm,” said Mr Alexander. “His work ethic is simply unbelievable, and he embodies everything we value in a Springbok – resilience, commitment and character. This award is a fitting recognition of his contribution to our team and to the sport of rugby.”

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander paid tribute to all the nominees, saying their recognition underscored the depth of talent forged under Rassie Erasmus’ stewardship.

“To have three of the four nominees for World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year and a Breakthrough Player nominee from our country is a testament to the class of this team. We are immensely proud of them all.”

The 2025 World Rugby Awards confirmed winners across men’s and women’s 15s and sevens after a staggered year of announcements.

Fabian Holland claimed Men’s Breakthrough, Santiago Pedrero and Maia Joseph won Try of the Year, and John Mitchell took Coach of the Year.

Sophie de Goede and Braxton Sorensen-McGee led the women’s honours. In sevens, Luciano Gonzalez and Jorja Miller earned Player of the Year titles, with Enahemo Artaud and Nia Toliver named Rookies of the Year, and Joji Nasova, Marcos Moneta and Madi Levi topping the try-scoring charts.